Dry January is a personal challenge that helps people cut down on their alcohol consumption and explore the growing trend of non-alcoholic cocktails, zero-proof spirits and alcohol-free wine and beer. Read on to find your new favorite Dry January drinks, mocktails and brands — plus ways to make Dry January easier.
If you’re planning to participate in Dry January in the new year, you might be wondering how you can make it through the whole month without cracking open a beer or drinking a cocktail.
Below you’ll find suggestions for what to drink, how to make mocktails and how to get through the month.
What is Dry January?
Observed from January 1 to January 31, Dry January is a public health campaign encouraging people to refrain from drinking for a month as an abbreviated new year’s resolution.
It’s similar to Sober October, which is a similar personal challenge held during the month of October.
Also sometimes called “Drynuary,” Dry January and Sober October participants partake for a number of reasons, including:
- Resetting after a busy holiday season
- Starting the year on a fresh note
- Practicing mindful drinking
- Saving money on buying alcohol
- Trying out a new year’s resolution
- Solidarity in helping a friend start a habit
Enjoying Dry January drinks for a month isn’t as hard as it sounds. Keep reading to discover the top brands and how to make it even easier.
Benefits of Dry January
Giving up alcohol is said to have a number of health benefits, including weight loss, mental acuity, better sleep, and healthier skin as well as reduced risk of certain cancers, strokes and heart disease.
But on the surface, Dry January is a way to see what the sober curious movement is all about and discover how to enjoy life without alcohol.
For some people, the goal is to find a healthy balance with alcohol in moderation. For others, Dry January is a step toward eliminating alcohol for good.
The downside of Dry January
Though the behavior modification learned during Dry January and its health benefits help many people, this challenge isn’t for everyone.
For one, people can experience symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol. For those with a serious drinking problem, the rebound effect could cause even more problems.
Discuss with your doctor if you are concerned if Dry January is the right choice for you.
If you think you or someone you know might need help with alcohol abuse, please call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
Is Dry January hard?
The sober movement is gaining popularity big time, so both Dry January and Sober October are excellent ways to dip your toes in the realm of non-alcoholic beverages.
The good news is that there are more non-alcoholic options than ever, so sober curious social drinkers have nothing to worry about — it won’t be as hard as it sounds.
Many bars and restaurants are catching on to the desire for inclusivity and most offer at least a few non-alcoholic drinks on their menus. There are even entire bars dedicated to zero-proof drinks that are popping up all over the world!
Plus there are plenty of non-alcoholic brands available at your local grocery store, specialty shops and even online. With no booze involved, you can easily have zero-proof ingredients shipped to your door. They’re a great alternative to alcohol. See some suggestions for the top non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits below!
Tips for Dry January
Like quitting anything, going cold turkey is hard, but it’s how many people take on Dry January. Here are some tips for taking it in stride.
Plan ahead. If you know before New Year’s that you plan to take on the challenge, it may be helpful to try limiting your alcohol intake whenever possible so that the transition isn’t as harsh.
Do it your way. If not drinking for a whole month sounds tough, you can take it at your own pace. The goal then is to drink less without giving it up altogether. Try limiting yourself to a certain number of drinks per week. You can also choose to imbibe in low-alcohol/low-ABV drinks, which are drinks that have a smaller amount of alcohol.
Enjoy the process. Sometimes the pleasure of drinking is simply the act of pouring a glass of wine or making a cocktail. Try subbing that process for a new mocktail recipe (ideas below!) or pouring a glass of zero-proof wine or non-alcoholic beer instead.
Make it easy. It’s a good idea to figure out your favorite non-alcoholic drink(s) and make sure to have the ingredients on hand at all times. When the craving strikes, you’ll be ready with a refreshing drink you love that still satisfies you.
Best non-alcoholic wine
Non-alcoholic wine is readily available these days, and it’s not half bad. The zero-proof spirit industry is working non-stop to create delicious wines that have low or no alcohol.
These are the top-rated non-alcoholic wines on Amazon:
- Ariel Non-Alcoholic Chardonnay
- Sutter Home Fre Premium Red Blend
- St. Regis Non-Alcoholic Brut
- Surely Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé
If you have a favorite non-alcoholic wine, please post it in the comments below!
Best non-alcoholic beer
Similarly, non-alcoholic beer is taking hold and there are better options all the time. These are some of the top-rated zero-proof beer brands on Amazon:
- Athletic Brewing Co. Craft Non-Alcoholic Beer
- Brewdog Non-Alcoholic Mix
- Suntory All-Free Beer Alternative
On a personal note, I’ve heard over and over again from friends that they loved Athletic Brewing Co.’s non-alcoholic beers during pregnancy.
Best non-alcoholic spirits
A great way to enjoy Dry January drinks is to replace the alcohol in your favorite drinks with zero-proof spirits. The perfect alternative to regular booze, they are essentially flavored liquids that are meant to mimic the flavor of classic spirits but without the alcohol content.
You can mix these with non-alcoholic mixers like cola, lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, ginger beer, sparkling water, soda water, tonic water and club soda. Alternatively, you can just as easily shake them into your favorite classic cocktail recipe in lieu of alcohol to turn it into a dry drink.
With more coming on the market all the time, you can essentially build an entire bar around these trendy non-alcoholic spirits. Keep in mind that they have limited shelf lives in comparison to bottled alcohol.
Here are some of the top zero-proof spirits on the market:
- Ritual tequila alternative (affiliate link)
- Monday Zero Alcohol Mezcal
- Ritual rum alternative (affiliate link)
- Seedlip Garden 108 (similar to a gin alternative)
- Ritual gin alternative (affiliate link)
- Spiritless Kentucky 74 (non-alcoholic bourbon)
- Ritual whiskey alternative (affiliate link)
- Lyre’s Italian Spritz (a non-alcoholic apéritif)
- Lyre’s Coffee Originale (a non-alcoholic coffee liqueur)
- Lyre’s orange sec (non-alcoholic triple sec/orange liqueur)
And what can you make with them? Let’s get into some of the best mocktails to enjoy during Dry January:
Best mocktails for Dry January
Easy non-alcoholic cocktails are a great way to enjoy Dry January without feeling like you're totally deprived of fun. Mocktails can be totally tasty and not to sweet.
With Jan. 1 as National Bloody Mary Day, why miss out? Indulge in a non-alcoholic version made with your favorite non-alcoholic spirit, olive brine or without anything added at all — Bloody Mary mix is delicious on its own.
Non-alcoholic mimosas will be the new star of brunch. Learn how to make the best drink with the perfect ratio.
Skip the alcohol and make a "mindful mule." This ginger beer and lime drink normally contains vodka or another spirit but is just as tasty without the booze.
Enjoy a virgin mojito mocktail instead of the classic. It’s a refreshing, non-alcoholic spin on the original Cuban cocktail made with zero-proof rum, fresh limes and mint. It’s the perfect summer sipper.
Whether you’re celebrating the Kentucky Derby or just love mint juleps, you don’t need bourbon to have a good time. Make this virgin julep with zero-proof whiskey.
How to make a classic Espresso Martini without the alcohol! This coffee mocktail is bold, sweet, delicious, and just the pick-me-up we all need!
Creamy, refreshing and non-alcoholic Piña Coladas are perfect for the whole family to enjoy! Each sip is paradise in a glass and will transport you to the shade of a palm tree on a warm beach, no passport required!
This Sweet Sunrise is an easy mocktail that’s a play on the infamous Tequila Sunrise. This orange and pineapple drink recipe omits the tequila while adding a dash of orange bitters for a burst of flavor.
This smoked Whiskey Sour mocktail is a simple, yet flavorful take on the classic whiskey sour. With alcohol-free whiskey, tart lemon, a splash of simple syrup and a dose of smoke, this easy mocktail goes down oh-so-smooth.
Who needs tequila? This mindful margarita sure doesn’t. It’s made without alcohol and without zero-proof spirits, so you can savor the sweet citrus flavors.
This 4-ingredient Shaken Strawberry Daiquiri Mocktail is so fancy and won’t leave you missing the rum. The sweet, refreshing, and tart flavors are perfect for summer parties or whenever you’re craving a fruity treat!
This Blue Lagoon Mocktail is beautifully blue, citrusy, and so refreshing. This tiki mocktail takes 5 minutes to stir up, requires only 3 ingredient, and has no alcohol.
Rosy and refreshing, a Shirley Temple drink is always a delight — no matter your age. Even though it's the quintessential mocktail, sipping on this childhood favorite made with grenadine is sure to bring a smile to your face. If you wish for a non-alcoholic version of the trendy Dirty Shirley, you can add a splash of zero-proof rum.
Iced tea lemonades are the most refreshing afternoon pick-me-up, even in wintertime. The right ratio is key to balancing the tartness and sweetness.
If you love sipping on sparkling water, a splash of white balsamic vinegar works well as an added flavoring. The vinegar acts as a shrub, giving any drink a sophisticated depth of flavor.
Other non-alcoholic drinks
Not into non-alcoholic beer, wine or cocktails? Here are some recipes for beverages that are 100% delicious on their own:
Cold Drinks
- Lemonade
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Herbal Limeade
- Coffee Soda
- Spa Water (AKA infused water)
- Cold-Brew Iced Tea
- Sparkling Green Tea
- Non-alcoholic Irish Cream
- Oat-chata
- Kombucha
- Shrub
Warm Drinks
- Hot tea (black, green or herbal tea)
- Apple Cider
- Hot Chocolate
- White Hot Chocolate
- Russian Tea
- Cinnamon Latte
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